Wednesday, 30 November 2016

So far, I have lost 6lbs in my new slimming venture – hoping to be considerably slimmer again by Spring – that's the plan anyway! Only been following the SW diet for two weeks, so pretty pleased. Cooked a wonderful Vegetarian Paella this evening – took ages to make, but it was worth it.

My Mother and I visited Father on Sunday, who looked pretty well – helped him with his tea, he seems to have a much better appetite at teatime than when he was at home, which is good. It was toasty warm in the care home, good job he is where he is, as it isn't exactly hot in Mother's house – its always been a cool house, which is an advantageous in the summer months, but rubbish for the rest of the year!

My sister Lucy played 2nd Violin in her first concert of the season at the Corn Exchange in King's Lynn on Sunday – so pleased she is continuing with this.

It's Andy Wilkinson's 50th birthday this Saturday! Another one to join the fifty's club! I havn't got my party invite yet Andy – it must have got lost in the post?!!!

I really enjoyed watching the first part of the documentary on Fair Isle this week, just makes me want to be there again even more.

I see the Isabelline Wheatear has returned to Burnham Overy Dunes again – I am guessing its been chilling out on Scolt Head Island over the last few weeks, hence no news maybe?!

I don't know where the year has disappeared to, but it will soon be Christmas! We have our work team's Christmas Party next Friday – my once a year social event!!! Well, actually I have three events this year, another party and a Christmas lunch – lucky me!!!

I have been feeling pretty down in the dumps over the last few weeks, hence no personal bird news or pictures posted – mostly due to sad family goings on and other stuff. Things seem to be settling again re family stuff to a degree and kind of like normal again, whatever normal is! 2016 has not been an easy year at all for my family – the best thing that happened, was Father reaching his 90th birthday!

"More than 40 birdwatchers turned up in a Pembrokeshire village for the first recorded visit of a masked wagtail in Britain. The bird, usually found in Kazakhstan, Iran and Afghanistan, was spotted in Camrose, near Haverfordwest on Tuesday......."

Thursday, 24 November 2016

Moss Taylor shared his experiences of the birds, dragonflies and wild flowers of the county at Hunstanton Methodist Church Hall this evening, which was a NWT event. I rarely go to these events, as usually too tired after work, but made a special effort this evening as my Mother wanted to listen to Moss Taylor's talk – I can't remember the last time she went to any kind of social event in the evening, she really enjoyed herself.

My weekend did not go to plan at all. I spent Saturday doing errands for Mother in Hunstanton and then over to Fakenham, along with my sister Vivien. Argos in Fakenham had the only Dimplex heater model that my Mother wanted, but after delivering it to Holme, I discovered that the 3kw model is not the only model! There are two models at 3kw and I had bought the wrong one! Argos does not sell the other model at all, so on Sunday I returned the heater to Argos in King's Lynn and then drove all the way over to Hughes at Cromer to buy the correct model. Unpacked it at Mother's, only to discover a plastic section where the plug is stored when not is use was broken!!!

Rung the Cromer store on Monday, who will organise the Hunstanton branch to exchange one! What a tedious and frustating weekend!!!

Our newly refurbished ward was opened today by local MP Henry Bellingham with the local press and ribbon being cut etc! It has not stopped raining today and it was looked like dusk all afternoon! I have not had the time to go and look yet, but one of my colleagues has informed me there is a large Pied Wagtail roost in one of the courtyard gardens at the QEH, which is really good news, as this used to occur years ago, but I have not seen or heard them for a good few years.

I am extremely behind with replying to emails due to family issues – huge apologies, I will sort through them all soon.

MEGA NEWSMEGA! KILLDEER at Wart Junction, Sandwick, Shetland.MEGA! WESTERN RUFOUS TURTLE DOVE Mainland, in garden at North Roe, Shetland.MEGA! AMERICAN COOT still at Balranald RSPB, North Uist, Western Isles.

I have worked two Sundays in a row and was very much looking forward to getting out birding on Saturday, but as many of you know, it poured with rain from dawn 'til dusk – a miserable day and not worth getting soaked for! I visited Father in the afternoon, who was very sleepy when I arrived. The staff said that he had refused tea and his usual cup of coffee. He had slipped in the chair and was in a poor position. I soon woke him up and got a member of staff to help me sit him up in the chair properly. With my assistance, he ate all four small triangles of cheese sandwich (spoon fed to him in tiny pieces), a few crisps, fruit cake and a yoghurt and also two birthday chocolates and a whole beaker of coffee!!! Obviously the support of family members makes all the difference, but we can't all be there every day.

Father looked quite well and had a good colour in his face. I tried the new birthday slippers on him (the pair Mother bought him were too small and I exchanged them for a bigger size) and they fitted well, so left them on him. Father seems to be using my new green hand muff I made him, which is good – I still havn't finished the second one yet though! Just before I left, I helped Father to sign a 'Daughter' birthday card for Vivien, which will be a bit late, but never mind, it will be an unexpected surprise for her!

I visited Mother for the rest of the evening who was tired but ok – we watched 'Strictly' together with the cat, who decided to snuggle between us both on the sofa, which was sweet!

Today of course, was gloriously sunny weather, whilst I was working on a very long day – helping to get things in order for our move back to our newly refurbished ward. It was quite amazing how much Debbie and I achieved later this afternoon at work – we make an excellent team. Our new ward looks amazing, really excited at returning to our 'home', with new lighting, colour coded bays, new paintwork, new bathrooms, new meeting rooms, new reception area, new floors etc etc!

I'm also looking forward to an entire weekend off at the end of the week!

MEGA NEWSMEGA! AMERICAN COOT at Balranald RSPB, North Uist, Western Isles.MEGA! WESTERN RUFOUS TURTLE DOVE Mainland, in garden at North Roe, Shetland.MEGA! SIBERIAN ACCENTOR 12th for UK! Black Isle at Avoch, Highland, Scotland.MEGA! DALMATIAN PELICAN SE of Devoran, still at Restronguet Creek from Point Quay, Cornwall.

I have not had a 'hot birding' weekend at all, in fact it was non-existent, aside from a fabulous surprise as I walked up the hill into work on Sunday, of 18 Waxwings flying over my head east at 8.20am!!! Lots of Blackbirds were feeding around the hospital grounds. A wickedly cold day, with sunshine Sunday morning and then torrential rain and winds for the rest of the day.

After work on Sunday evening, I headed to Heacham to deliver Father his finished birthday present, see previous post today. He seemed very pleased with his new hand warming muff – it took forever to make, as the layers were so thick, I had to hand sew most of it, but worth it when finished. I then popped in to see Mother to make sure she was ok – she was, apart from having to sit on her second favourite chair, as the cat has now taking a liking to the best seat in the house!

MEGA NEWSMEGA! CLIFF SWALLOW again at Stone Curlew field at 7.15am then flew south, plus no further sign all day at Minsmere RSPB, Suffolk.MEGA! SIBERIAN ACCENTOR 12th for UK! Black Isle at Avoch, trapped and ringed at 9.30am.MEGA! FORSTER'S TERN at Nimmo's Pier, County Galway, Ireland.

Friday, 4 November 2016

EYEBROWED THRUSH 7.5mls WSW of Morpeth at Bolam Lake Country Park on north side in hawthorn at Pheasant Meadow, late afternoon, Northumberland. Found by Ross Moore.Discussion on Birdforum HERE.Pictures HERE.

I spent several hours using the sewing machine at work last night, making Father a hand warming muff with neck strap in his favourite colour, bright green. Even though the care home is hot, his hands are always cold. I had purchased some luxury dense fleece type green fabric and a special chocolate brown lining fabric that had wadding within, from the Fent Shop in King's Lynn. But to my horror, certain sections were too thick for the machine to cope with, so I'm having to do a lot of hand sewing, and it sadly it wasn't quite ready for the big day! I will post a picture of the finished item, when complete. I'm in the middle of making two, one to wear, one for the wash!

Father looked really well today and was in top form – well, top form for someone that has reached 90! I visited him twice, firstly at lunchtime and brought him a '90' helium balloon and a '90' badge to wear – he was pleased with the badge. Several birthday cards had arrived by post and I was excited to see who they were from, but waited until later on, when Mother visited too. Any cards opened and left on the table, might have gone walk about. There are a few residents, one springs to mind in particular who loves cards and loves collecting them up!

Father with me!

I had to go to a haberdashery shop in Hunstanton to buy some more bits and pieces for the hand muff and picked up some requested bread for Mother and then headed to Holme. I have lost count of how many beds the spoilt cat now has all around the house! Also Mother had placed grated cheese (I kid you not) on a tea plate which was placed on newspaper on the landing for the cat to eat!!! "Why can't the cat walk down the kitchen to eat that?" I asked..... Mother replied "its warmer upstairs with the radiator on – too cold for her to walk downstairs to eat"!!!!!! You couldn't make it up!

Mother and I arrived at Summerville House Care Home in Heacham, a few minutes after Lucy and Vivien. It was a job to sit with Father as he sits in a row with other residents, alongside a wall/window, but we managed to squeeze in! We assisted Father to open all his presents: lots of chocolates including a Thorntons chocolate champagne bottle, 2 shirts and socks from Lucy, a green zipped fleece and a framed picture of my card (which I printed out, as well as the card) from me, a new soft knee blanket, neck purse/bag to keep sweets and tissues in from Vivien and slippers and chocolates from Mother. There was a lovely card from Malcolm and Eileen, our very close friends (might as well say family as known them since year dot!) and some cards that were very unexpected and a lovely surprise – not from anyone we thought they might be from, but from birders that read my blog! I am so touched by that and I can't thank you enough. The cards were from Alan Paine, Christine and Patrick Riley, K & E Hill & Tony – so very kind to take the time to send cards, huge thanks to you all immensely.

Blowing out the candles!

Blowing out the last candle took a lot of puffs this year!

Father and Mother!

The next big surprise was Malcolm and Eileen arriving at the care home! This made my day, especially when Eileen is so ill. Father looked thrilled to see them both – well I say 'see', he can't really, but he instantly recognised their voices and looked so chuffed. He made me laugh when he demanded that someone get Eileen a chair – she was already sitting down, in a wheelchair. It was pretty crowded here now and it started to get a bit too much for Father, although he managed to eat a fried egg sandwich with assistance from me. One of the staff brought out a chocolate birthday cake with candles and we all sang Happy Birthday and pictures were taken by the staff and us and cake distributed – very nice it was too, thanks to Stephanie Middleton who kindly made it.

Malcolm took some 'proper' photos of us all with wide angle lens (he probably needed a wide angle he joked to me - ha ha ha!) Helped Eileen outside in the wheelchair and into her car when they left, so nice to see them on this very special occasion. I took all Father's cards and presents upstairs to his room and we left just as the staff were assisting him to the wheelchair to take him to bed, he was worn out and so were we! Vivien took Lucy home and I took Mother home. I had to do the on-line shop for Mother when I returned home, which I didn't feel like doing, but hey ho!

Thanks to everyone, including all the staff and residents at Summerville House Care Home, who made my Father's 90th Birthday Celebrations so special. I'm so glad he reached his 90th, I hope I make it that far!

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